Sectional automatic display cabinet



Sept. 3, 1935.

J. A. MICHAUD.

SECTIONAL AUTOMATIC DISPLAY CABINET Filed March '50, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 3, 1935. J. A. MICHAUD SECTIONAL AUTOMATIC DISPLAY CABINET Filed March 30, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 3, 1935. J. A. MICHAUD 2,013,284

SECTIONAL AUTOMATIC DISPLAY CABINET Filed March 30, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 posed one above the other.

Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 2,013,284 SECTIQNAL AUTOMATIC DISPLAY CABINET Joseph A. Michaud, St. Paul, Minn.

Application March 30, 1932, Serial No. 601,984

6 Claims. (Cl. 211-49) My invention relates to sectional automatic display racks designed for use to. display canned goods, as well as packages and bottles or glass jars of merchandise, such as are sold in grocery stores and which ordinarily have been displayed upon shelves or in racks, but which heretofore did not provide a'means of bringing-the-goods in display automatically, like in the display rack which I have developed. The display rack is made up in sections and has adjustable sides and members so that it can be adjusted to the merchandise to be displayed therein, for various sized packages and has sections which can be built up or superim- The rack may be set up in units which are adapted to be connected side by side, providing a very attractive display for any grocery store, or for other uses where an automatic display rack of this kind is desired.

A feature of the invention resides in a sectional display rack which is-formed with a series of trays which extend the width of each section of the display rack and each tray of which is provided with a depending display shelf forwardly disposed of the tray, so that the goods may drop into the display shelf in an upright position with the labels on the goods right side up and in an orderly manner to tained between each section or runway to accommodate different sized goods.

The depth or length of the rack may be adjusted in accordance with the length of the trays and the side members. With a sectional display 5 rack of this character, the merchant may maintain his stock in a much more attractive manner, owing to the fact that as the goods are lifted out of the display shelf, the reserve goods of the same character slide by gravity into displaying position, 10 thus keeping the display rack always filled and providing an attractive and neat appearance, rather than a disorderly shelf where the goods would be piled irregularly on the same and where the old goods would always remain in the back- 5 ground, while the merchant kept replenishing the same with new goods in front. A display cabinet of this character is more desirable for the mermake an attractive display. These trays may be divided into narrower trays by simple partitions which are adjustable so as to divide each tray into as many runways or slides as may be desired. The adjustable partitions are supported depending into the single tray and are held in a manner to divide the same into separate runways so that the canned goods may slide down the tray in these runways and drop automatically into the display shelf, being guided by the partition, and slidable in the tray.

My display rack is made up in units so that any number of these units may be connected together side by side or superimposed one above the other to build up a display rack of the desired size and with the separate runways for the different goods just wide enough to permit the goods to slide freely therein between the partitions and in the tray, thus permitting wide or narrow packages to be contained in the same tray and display rack. The sides of the rack are made up of interconnecting members so as to fit one within the other and the back may be inclosed in the same manner by built up side members, while the front is made up of the display shelves which depend from the front 01 the trays which extend between the sides of each section. With this sectional construction of the display cabinet, different heights may be obchant because it permits him to more easily handle his stock of merchandise, keep a better inven- 20 tory of the same, and aid in attracting the attention of the purchaser thereto.

These features, together with other objects and details of the invention will be more fully and clearly set forth in the specification and claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a front view of my display rack set up with three units connected together side by side and showing a multiplicity of tray sections posi- 30 tioned one above the other, to make up a unit display.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the display cabinet partly in section with the decorative front removed. 5

Figure 3 is a detail portion of the rack from the rear.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the trays illustrating a display shelf on the front of the same.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the front cross member showing the slots for adjustably positioning the front end of the partition.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the partition members. 45

Figure 7 is a sectional detail, illustrating the lower portion of the display shelf with the price and indicating card holder.

Figure 8 illustrates a side view of my sectional display cabinet, showing the side panels made of 5 interfltting members to formclosed Walls on the sides thereof.

Figure 9 is a rear view of the rack.illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective of one of the are made of the desiredwidth so as to extend between the sides l0 of each unit.

My display rack A may be set up in a single unit C with a series of trays B superimposed one above the other as illustrated in Figure 2. When it is desired, several units C may be connected together to make up a complete display rack like as is illustrated in the front view in Figure 1.

'Suitable decorative connecting face moldings I! may be employed to complete the series of units when set up together as illustrated. When several of theseunits are used, a suitable display top l2 may be formed on the same and panels I3 are provided below the display top 12 so that the indicia to indicate the contents of the unit C may be shown in these panel portions.

The trays B are formed with a bottom portion I4 and upwardly extending sides l5. At the front of the tray B, I provide a dispay shelf D which is connected in any suitable manner to the tray so as to support the shelf D at the desired angle in relation to the tray B to cause the -merchandise sliding in the tray to enter the display shelf D automatically and to hold the merchandise therein in a comparatively upright position with the display labels thereon visible when viewing the front of the display cabinet A, to attract the eye of the customer and to permit the merchant to readily observe the display of merchandise. The shelf D is formed with a dependv ing flange I6 which may act to support a series .walls for the case A. Each of the sections 21 may be of any desired width-and length in acof transparent covers 11 made of celluloid or similar material, so that a display card l8 may be inserted under the celluloid covering, keeping the same clean and permitting the card i8 to be changed when it is desired. The covering IT can be slightly spaced apart on the flange H5, or a suitable slot may be formed in the same to receive the cards I8. The covering I! may be held in place by the bolt l9 which is formed with a rubber or soft bumper head 20 so that when the goods slides automatically from the tray l4 into the shelf D, it will be retarded and cushioned by the bumper 20.

The rear end of the tray I4 may be formed with a depending flange 2| which forms a support for a suitable card to indicate at the back of the tray and back of the display rack A the contents of each particular runway. This permits the merchant to fill the rack A from the back, knowing at all times just what goods belongs in each of the runways.

The tray I4 is supported on the front end by the transverse brace member 22, while the rear end of the tray is supported by the transverse brace member 23. The member 22 may be in the form of a channel and is provided with cars 24 formed with openings 25 to receive a bolt 26 to support the channel or member 22 to the side- ID of the case A. The sides In may be made in interfitting sections 21 which are formed with tongues 28 and grooves 29, so that the adjacent sections 21 may fit together to form closed side cordance with the size of the case A. The members 22 and 23 are held to the sides by adjustable rack plates 30 which are secured to the side sections 121. The racks 30 permit the cross members 22 /and 23 to be adjusted to any position within the sides of the case A. The ears 24 may overlap at the joints between the side members 21 or they may come in any other position between the sides ill of the case A, and when the bolts 26 are secured in the racks 30 and extend through the ears 24 of either of the members 22 and 23, the cross members are held rigidly to the side walls in, and thus'ferm braces for the case A as well as supporting the trays 14.. jl'he trays l4 are adapted to extend at an incline and bythe adjustable means of the sections of the case A, the trays may be inclined at the desired angle so that the goods will slide down the tray l4 freely from the rear toward the front.

The tray [4 is adapted to be divided by partition members 32 which are formed with a forwardly extending guide lip 33 on the front end and a projecting flange 34 extending above the lip 33. the forward edge of the partition 32 immediately below the flange 34, while the flange 34 rests on the flange 36 of the member 22. A multiplicity of slots 35 are formed in the flange 36 so that the front end of the partition 32 may be adjusted into the desired position. The rear end of the partition 32 is formed with an upwardly extending flange 31 and this flange is adapted to be secured to the depending flange 38 from the member 23. A series of holes 39 are formed in this flange 38 so that the complemental hole 40 in the flange 31 will be alined therewithand suitable bolts will support the rear end of the partition 32. By this structure a series of partitions 32 may be so positioned as to support the depending partition 4| of the member 32 into the tray M. This divides the tray i4 into a series of runways. The number of runways depends upon the number of partitions 32 and the tray [4 is divided by the partitions 32 to provide the runways of the desired width so that canned, bottled, or packaged merchandise may slide freely down the runways into the display shelf D. The mass extends forwardly beyond the tray l4 and acts to divide the display shelf D into the same number of display compartments as there are runways formed by the partitions 32. Thus the goods are held in the display shelf D, coming from the respective runways.

In operation the display case A supports the merchandise in a manner to keep the display shelves filled at all times, or as long as there is a supply of merchandise in the respective runways in the tray M. Then when the clerk sells a package or some of the merchandise and removes it from the shelf D, a new package will automatically move into display position. A primary feature inthis display cabinet is the flexibility of its proportions and size, as well as the adjustable nature of the runways and wherein a single magazine tray 14 may be divided by the partitions to make up a series of runways of the desired size and width. These features include the sectional construction which permits the case A to be built up as desired and also permits a series of these cases A to be connected as units, side by side, to make up a larger display case including a number. of these units if it is desired. The width of each unit may be governed according to the weight of the goods'to be supported within the same so that the side walls III are ,spacedln relation to 'each other as may be desired, and the width of the trays M are commensurate with thewidth between the cabinet Suitable slots 35 are adapted to receivewalls Ill. The advantages of this sectional case for displaying merchandise are further more apparent by the nature of the same which permits the readjustment of the partitions 32 to change the width of the runways if it is desired, and to otherwise change the case owing to itssectional and adjustable nature so that it may be adapted to fit the desired purposes for displaying the goods and supporting the same.

I have found that this sectional case may be employed for a stock rack in the stock room so that orders may be filled from the rack, saving considerable time in putting up orders and in handling merchandise where it is desirable to have the goods held so that it may be readily accessible for removal when desired. This case A may also be used as a sorting device for handling packages of difierent characters. The sides of the case A may be made up of angle iron members, similar to the construction illustrated in Figure 2,. and any desired covering may be used to inclose the case A to give it a decorative and flnished appearance.

The nature of this sectional display case or rack adapts the same to a wide range of use and therefore makes it very desirable to be used in grocery stores where canned goods are displayed and sold, as well as bottles goods, or packages of a staple nature.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of my adjustable display cabinet which is adapted to automatically bring the goods into display position, and while I have set forth certain details and construction, and have pointed out various uses of the same, these are only suggestive and the invention resides within thescope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A sectional display. cabinet for displaying merchandise including sides, cross members adjustably connected to said sides, inclined tray members suflicient in length to accommodate a plurality of aligned articles to be displayed, partitions adjustably positioned within said trays to form runways, a display shelf extending augularly from each of said trays, said shelf being of proper length to hold a single article, said display shelf being so positioned with respect to the runways to cause the goods to move by gravity .thereinto when emptied.

2. An adjustable sectional display cabinet inthe display shelves are cluding, interfltting side members, aligned anchoring racks carried by said side members, cross brace members and supports adjustably positioned in said racks'connecting said side members, and trays supported by said cross members, said trays being positioned at an incline to form a sliding support for merchandise carried thereby.

3. An adjustable sectional merchandise supporting cabinet including, adjustable side walls having interfitting means to connect said side walls together, adjustable supports extending between said side walls secured to the inside of said side walls, merchandise receiving trays adjusted to the desired inclined positions between said side walls, and adjustable partitions dividing said trays into runways in which the merchandise is adapted to be slidably supported.

4. A merchandise display anddispensing cabinet including, sectional sides, adjustable brace and supporting members extending between the sides, superimposed inclined merchandise supporting trays supported between said sides by said supporting members, adjustable partitions positioned in said trays to divide the same into a series 'of runways, and a display shelf secured at the lowermost end of each of said runways to said runways adapted to fill with merchandise by the weight of the merchandise itself from the runway when other merchandise is removed from the display shelf.

5. A sectional merchandise display cabinet including, superimposed means for slidably supporting articles of merchandise therein, means secured to said supporting means for displaying the merchandise, said supporting means including space for storing a supply of merchandise therein and said supporting means being supported inclined for causing the merchandise from the supply means to move by its own weight into display position, said supply means and said display means being adjustable to accommodate different sized packages of merchandise.

6. A cabinet for displaying merchandise in a manner to cause the same to move by gravity from a source of supply to a displaying position including sectional sides, adjustable inclined trays mounted between said sides, means on said trays for dividing said trays to provide runways, and a display shelf secured at one end of each of said trays for all of .said runways.

JOSEPH A. MICHAUDT: 

